Everything you need to know about the All-NEW Rebel 300 Motorcycle in one place! (including Rebel 300 ABS)

Say hello to the all-new 2017 Honda Rebel 300! I’m a little late to the game doing a detailed review of the specs and features on the Rebel 300, I covered its initial release here quite a few months ago though if you want to check out that announcement. The Rebel 300 was one of (2) new 2017 motorcycles paired up with the Rebel 500 that as a combo replaced the old-school and extremely outdated Rebel 250. You can check out the 2017 Rebel 500 / 300 Model Announcement by Clicking Here. This review is only going to cover the Rebel 300 and Rebel 300 ABS models since I have already done a detailed review on the 2017 Rebel 500 that you can check out by Clicking Here. Why (2) separate pages for them? Because even though they are very close to being the same, they are quite different too. There’s so much information concerning these two new cruiser motorcycles from Honda that they need their own pages to highlight everything you need to know about both of them. I will do a small comparison of the main details on the Rebel 300 versus 500 below though

What is the new 2017 Rebel 300 (CMX300)? It’s a new cruiser, ‘bobber’ style motorcycle from Honda for 2017 that is a huge update and I mean HUGE update coming from the Honda Rebel 250 that Honda introduced a year before I came into this world – in 1984. It is Honda’s idea at creating a fresh new take on an otherwise old-school ‘look’ with the 300 cc (technically 286cc) single-cylinder engine stolen from the very popular CBR300R / CB300F bikes. The Rebel is slim, blacked out to the max and with a low 27.2 inch seat height, the Rebel is easy to ride no matter your experience or size. A new tubular steel frame draws fresh, contemporary lines into stripped-back, fat-tired ‘bobber’ style, with mid-mounted footpegs and a relaxed and neutral riding position with gently outstretched arms. An entirely different bike styling wise when compared against the typical ‘cruiser’ style of the Rebel 250 that was all about the bling bling chrome etc. Honda has shown yet again that they know how to mix old and new school to create an engaging and incredibly easy motorcycle to ride, yet still offering plenty of room for owner customization. It’s update has been long overdue as this is one of Honda’s longest-running bikes that has not received an update with major changes and upgrades etc so I’m sure we can all agree, it’s been a long-time coming…

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2017 Rebel 300 VS Rebel 500

With the all-new 2017 Rebel from Honda you have (2) engine options: 1. 471cc 8-valve, liquid-cooled parallel twin-cylinder engine is drawn from Honda’s popular 500cc trio (CBR500R / CB500F / CB500X) or the 286cc single-cylinder engine stolen from Honda’s 300cc duo (CBR300R / CB300F). If you want more details on the larger variant, the Rebel 500, check it out by clicking here. For cruising duties, revised PGM-FI fuel injection mapping has re-focused its character towards a more torque-heavy bottom-end output, while retaining a sporty feel to its smooth and linear power delivery, for a ride that is engaging as well as easy.

The Rebel 300 and 500 models share more parts than what is technically different between them. Here’s a quick overview of the differences in specs between them:

Rebel 300 VS 500 Comparison

Rebel 300 HP – 27.4 horsepower

Rebel 500 HP – 45.9 horsepower

Rebel 300 TQ – 19.9 lb/ft torque

Rebel 500 TQ – 32.9 lb/ft torque

Rebel 300 MPG – 71 miles per gallon

Rebel 500 MPG – 61 miles per gallon

Rebel 300 Weight – 364 lbs

Rebel 500 Weight – 408 lbs

Rebel 300 Price – $4,399 (MSRP)

Rebel 500 Price – $5,999 (MSRP)

Alright, now let’s get to what you came here for and that’s to dive into the details on the all-new 2017 Rebel 300 from Honda that replaced the extinct Rebel 250…

2017 Rebel 300 Review Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Model Overview

3. Key Features

3.1 Styling

3.2 Engine

3.3 Chassis / Suspension

4. Rebel 300 Accessories

5. Quick Overview of Specs / Features (if you’re in a hurry, skip to here…)

6. Photo Gallery

7. Technical Specifications

1. Rebel 300 Introduction

The Rebel is a progressive new custom bobber that fuses tradition with new ideas and perspectives while offering ample scope for owner customization. For many riders in their early 20s – Generation Y, who have grown up through the digital age – motorcycles mean so much more than just transport. They need to represent a lifestyle, an attitude, and to allow them to express their own individual identity. These riders’ expectations are different to those of the motorcycling mainstream and the machines that speak to them reflect this. They have to fit in with their life but must also contain the potential for further individualization.

Development for the Rebel 300 began in the U.S., with the objective of referencing a timeless look while also introducing a forward-thinking, contemporary style all their own. Accessible, fun to ride and easy to live with, the models go their own way but are also blank canvases, ready for whatever their owners’ imaginations have in store. Speaking of blank canvas, check out these custom Honda Rebel 300 / 500 builds that Honda put together for the unveiling event:

Mr Keita Mikura, Large Project Leader (LPL) of the innovative NM4 Vultus(pictured below) understands this. He likes to play with the rules, creating machines that fuse tradition with groundbreaking new ideas and perspectives. Mikura-san is the Large Project Leader of the new Honda Rebel. His team has produced a custom motorcycle that showcases a classic, timeless look but is also imbued with a forward-looking, contemporary style all of its own. Accessible, easy to ride and easy to live with, the Rebel goes its own way but is also a blank canvas, ready for whatever its owner’s imagination has in store for it.

2. Rebel 300 Overview

The new Rebel is simple and raw but don’t let the minimalistic design fool you; it is a Honda after all and every tiny detail matters. The low, lean silhouette is crowned by an iconic fuel tank, aggressively raked front end and fat 16 inch tires on large-diameter wheels. The stamped-steel rear fender and narrow frame body result in a stripped form expressing offbeat individuality from every angle.

Development of the Rebel began in North America, with an outlook geared toward firing the imagination of a younger generation of riders in a different way to traditional cruiser motorcycles. It’s also slim, with a low seat height and therefore easy to manage at low speeds. The riding position is relaxed and neutral, with gently outstretched arms matched to mid-mounted footpegs.

The Rebel’s tubular steel frame is brand new and draws fresh, contemporary lines into stripped-back, fat-tired ‘bobber’ style. The evocative round headlight sits up high in a die-cast aluminum mount, the speedometer is a compact dial with negative LCD display and blue backlight. The ignition is housed below the left side of the fuel tank and everything that can be is blacked out. Speaking of blacked out, the 2017 Rebel is blacked out to the maximum, with the minimum of paint, it also switches from solo-only to passenger-possible via two bolts so you can easily carry a passenger on your Rebel 300.

– Video Review: 2017 Rebel 300 Specs & Features –

– Video Review: 2017 Rebel 300 ABS Specs & Features –

2017 Rebel 300 Performance Info:

2017 Rebel 300 Horsepower: 27.4 HP

2017 Rebel 300 Torque: 19.9 lb/ft TQ

2017 Rebel 300 MPG: 71 miles per gallon

2017 Rebel Model Options / Prices:

2017 Rebel 300 – $4,399 MSRP

(Model ID: CMX300H)

2017 Rebel 300 ABS – $4,699 MSRP

(Model ID: CMX300AH) ABS = Anti-Lock Brakes

2017 Rebel 500 – $5,999 MSRP

(Model ID: CMX500H)

2017 Rebel 500 ABS – $6,299

(Model ID: CMX500AH) ABS = Anti-Lock Brakes

2017 Rebel 300 Colors:

Graphite Black

Matte Armored Silver Metallic

Millennium Red

Matte Pearl White

(Colors will vary by country)

3. Rebel 500 Key Features

3.1 Styling

Two key words ran headlined throughout the Rebel’s development program: ‘SIMPLE’ and ‘RAW’. But to do so much with so little is an art form in itself, an exercise in minimalist design where every detail matters.

And the Rebel does not disappoint; rolling on fat tires its low and lean ‘bobber’ silhouette – crowned by the steeply raked 2.95 gallon fuel tank and fat handlebars – sits the rider firmly ‘in’ the machine. Iconic peanut-shaped fuel tanks, aggressively raked front ends and fat tires on large-diameter wheels result in stripped forms that express offbeat individuality from every angle. From every angle of its stripped form it expresses an off-beat individuality.

Everything that can be is blacked out, which highlights the Rebel’s lithe design as well as underlining the subtle paintwork. Set high up front the evocative round headlight features a 135mm diameter glass lens and die-cast aluminum mount.

The ‘one button’ speedo is a compact 100mm dial with negative LCD display and blue backlight and is both striking and effective, while the ignition is housed below the left side of the fuel tank.

3.2 Engine

The Rebel 300 uses an engine that was developed by aiming at a global single-cylinder engine that transcends regions, while being sporty and eco-friendly at the same time, with a look ahead at the next generation.

To fulfill basic performance requirements as a sport bike while setting higher targets for environmental performance, a DOHC was chosen as the valve system. DOHC improves combustion efficiency by reducing the weight of the reciprocating portion of the valves. This selection also allows us to freely choose the included valve angle, the port shape, and the shape of the combustion chamber. The choice of DOHC contributes to improved product appeal as a sports bike as well as to performance.

For the valve system, a roller rocker arm was adopted by a DOHC engine motorcycle for the first time in the world. A low-friction valve train with a smaller cylinder head was achieved through an ultra-compact layout for the roller rocker arm. The choice of a shim design for valve tappet adjustment reduced the rocker arm weight, while friction was reduced by setting the valve spring load to a low level. For better maintainability, the shim can be replaced without removing the camshaft.

To reduce blow-by gas and oil consumption, a spiny sleeve was adopted for the cylinder sleeve. Small spines have been added to the outer surface to improve cooling performance and help reduce distortion of the inner cylinder’s shape. In addition, centrifugal casting allowed a thin, uniform wall thickness, which aids weight reduction. For emission measures, an O² sensor is combined with the built-in air induction (AI) system and a catalyzer is fitted inside the exhaust pipe to comply with Euro 3 emission regulation. The power unit complies with other environmental regulations such as Thailand’s sixth emission standards, for which the evaporator system (evaporative emission control system) was put in place for the Thai model.

In the area of engine performance, a short-stroke engine was chosen to improve responsiveness in making the bike’s sporty characteristics easy to handle. The resulting bore stroke is on a par with that of CBR1000RR, Honda’s high performance, super sport bike. In designing the crankshaft, no efforts were spared to reduce weight in order to lower the inertial mass while achieving additional weight reduction in the piston and connecting rod. Sufficient cooling performance was ensured by conducting a high-efficiency cooling water flow analysis based on a CAE simulation to give higher output. To ensure that output characteristics are stress-free and powerful from low to high rpm ranges, charging efficiency was improved. Additional measures for higher efficiency include straightening from the air cleaner to the exhaust pipe. Valve stems have been made thinner, although valve diameters are large for both intake and exhaust. This valve design is coupled with a wide opening angle and a high-lift cam to improve intake/exhaust efficiency. To achieve output characteristics that are easy to handle at low speed and smooth rev-up at high rpm, the intake/exhaust systems were thoroughly analyzed to adopt the ideal port/pipe length and bore size.

Honda’s original new-generation crankshaft mechanism was used to realize an engine full of high-quality feel while maintaining high output.

First, a metal bearing (half-split, press-fit) was chosen for the crank journal for the first time on a Honda single-cylinder motorcycle. A cast-iron bush was selected for the crank bearing section in order to improve the rigidity of the crankcase housing and control changes crank journal’s oil clearance arising from thermal expansion. In this way, the design takes productivity into account with an eye toward a global roll-out, while improving quietness at the same time.

Second, while using a built-up type crankshaft that allows the big end of the connecting rod to be used as a low-friction roller bearing, the optimal crank web shape was realized as a result of a computer analysis of strength and rigidity. This ensures high rigidity on a par with a solid type crankshaft.

Crankshaft rigidity is enhanced further and quietness is improved by placing the balancer’s driving gear on the right cover inside the clutch housing -a design that narrows the distance between the left/right crank bearings and places a ball bearing at the tip of the crankshaft right side. For vibration, a primary balancer was chosen to produce a high-quality single-cylinder engine.

The 2-1 exhaust scrubs spent gases in its catalyser then speeds them through its first chamber into the second resonator chamber. The muffler is a 120mm diameter ‘shotgun’ style, and the sound produced has a heavy-duty pulsing feel that fits the torque delivery. Honda also blacked-out its mechanical components for a tough, minimalist look.

3.3 Chassis

The Rebel’s riding position is relaxed and neutral, with arms gently outstretched and feet dropping straight down to the mid-mounted pegs. Good ground clearance allows surprisingly sporty lean angles.

To support the Rebel’s low-slung look, its attractive tubular-steel frame holds the engine in three places and is designed to be as narrow as possible around the rider’s inseam. The 41mm forks are set wide at 230mm apart for handling rigidity, comfort and style, and the lower legs are blacked-out. Trail is set at 110mm with 28° rake; the forks are offset at 30° and the result, combined with the 58.7 inch wheelbase, is a low 27.2 inch seat height and mid-mounted footpegs, for balanced and neutral steering.

The frame has a narrow shape and includes an innovative rear loop that separates the seat from the stamped-metal rear fender; the bolt-on cast aluminum subframe provides further scope for customization.

The tubular steel blacked-out 45mm diameter swingarm works with side-mounted twin shock absorbers that feature 2 step preload settings so you can fine-tune the ride to your liking’s via the adjusters.

Dunlop tires are fitted as standard sized 130/90-16 front and 150/80-16 rear. The style of the 16-inch cast aluminum wheels is crisp and simple, with the 264mm front disc acting as mirror to the spoke pattern. A twin-piston front caliper is matched by a single-piston rear; ABS is fitted as standard on Euro-spec Rebel 300’s but is available as an option here in the USA on the 2017 Rebel 300.

While we’re on the topic of the chassis / frame of the new Rebel. A lot of people think that it is only a single-seater ‘solo’ motorcycle as that’s the way it comes outfitted from Honda but you can carry a passenger on both the Rebel 300 and Rebel 500 models thanks to the accessory passenger seat pictured below as well as passenger foot-pegs.

4. Rebel 300 Accessories

Here’s some pictures of some of the available accessories at this time for the 2017 Rebel 300 which include passenger seats, pegs, windshields, saddlebags, saddlebag mounting hardware, 12v accessory plug and more!

5. Quick Overview of Features / Specs

2017 Rebel 300 Chassis / Suspension

Riding position is relaxed and neutral, with arms gently outstretched and feet dropping straight down to the mid-mounted pegs.

Good ground clearances allow surprisingly sporty lean angles.

To support the Rebel’s low-slung look, its attractive tubular-steel frame holds the engine in three places and is designed to be as narrow as possible around the rider’s inseam. Trail is set at 110mm with 28° rake.

The 41mm fork stanchions are set wide at 230mm apart for handling rigidity, comfort and style, and the lower legs are blacked-out.

Speedometer is a compact dial with negative LCD display and blue backlight.

Ignition is housed below the left side of the fuel tank.

2017 Rebel 300 Engine / Drivetrain

Rebel 300 is powered by a single-cylinder 286cc engine that is the perfect choice for a bike like the Rebel. It’s light, simple, fuel efficient and features a broad powerband with plenty of low-revving torque—just what you want in your first motorcycle, but geared for comfortable cruising at highway speeds.

The crankshaft runs in plain bearings for quieter operation, and the big end of the connecting rod spins in a low-friction needle bearing.

Because it features a counterbalancer, the CBR300R engine is a smooth runner. You get the narrow overall width and power advantages of a single along with the smoothness of a multi-cylinder bike. The engine countershaft sits lower than the mainshaft to further reduce the front-to-back engine dimension. It’s located so close to the crankshaft that the balancer weight passes between the two crank weights to keep the engine as compact as possible while boosting mass centralization.

Six-speed gearbox is designed to offer effortless changes.

Blacked-out mechanical components for a tough, minimalist look.

Specially designed muffler looks good and emits a pulsating exhaust note.

6. 2017 Rebel 300 Photo Gallery / Pictures

7. 2017 Rebel 300 / ABS Technical Specifications

2017 Rebel 300 / 500 Specifications

Model

Rebel 500 ABS

Rebel 500

Rebel 300 ABS

Rebel 300

Engine Type

471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke

286cc liquid-cooled single-cyilnder four-stroke

Bore x Stroke

67.0mm x 66.8mm

76.0mm x 63.0mm

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Induction

PGM-FI; 34mm throttle bodies

PGM-FI; 38mm throttle bodies

Ignition

Computer-controlled digital transistorized w/ electronic advance

Transmission

Six-speed

Final Drive

Chain; 15T/40T

Chain; 14T/36T

Valve Train

DOHC; four valves per cylinder

SUSPENSION

Front

41mm telescopic fork; 4.77 in. travel

Rear

Twin shock; 3.77 in. travel

BRAKES

Front

Single 296mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers; ABS

Single 296mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers

Single 296mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers; ABS

Single 296mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers

Rear

Single 240mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers; ABS

Single 240mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers

Single 240mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers; ABS

Single 240mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers

TIRES

Front

130/90-16

Rear

150/80-16

Rake (Caster Angle)

28º

Trail

110mm (4.3 in)

Seat Height

27.2 in.

Ground Clearance

5.4 in.

5.9 in.

Wheelbase

58.7 in.

Fuel Capacity

3 gal.

Color

Black

Matte Silver, Bright Yellow, Black, Red

Black

Matte Silver, Matte Pearl White, Black, Red

Curb Weight*

414 lbs.

408 lbs.

370 lbs.

364 lbs.

*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride

Meets current EPA standards

Models sold in California meet current CARB standards and may differ slightly due to emissions equipment